NFP calls for Fiji human rights chairman to resign

Transcript

BIMAN PRASAD: It is concerning because already in this country we have a situation where draconian media laws make the media totally intimidated - there is a lot of self-censorship and it is almost impossible on many occasions for opposition parties like ours to get our opposing views to the mainstream media and the only alternative that people in this country have is to express their views and opinions on social media. So we are very concerned about any kind of regulation that the director of the Human Rights Commission of the chair of MIDA - which are conflicting roles themselves - is suggesting [this]. [Because] we believe this is the first step to putting something draconian in to control social media.

TIM GLASGOW: What do you think is motivating him to come out with these statements?

BP: Well, first of all he says this is about hate speech. Nobody condones hate speech, and in fact we would be the last people in this country - the parties such as ours who condone any kind of hate speech. But that is not the real issue on the mind of Mr Raj and probably the government as well, it is about controlling people's freedom to express their views  and obviously that has been done through the stifling of the mainstream media - by the draconian Media Decree and now Act. So we take those kinds of suggestions very, very seriously. And we also believe that Mr Raj should not be the one making these kinds of statements - so he should stick to his roles and not give suggestions to government.
 
TG: He has accused you of giving credence to hate speech, how do you respond to that accusation?

BP: Well, that is ridiculous and totally out of context. The chair of MIDA is in a corner because he has opened himself to this because he cannot understand and execute his role in an independent role - so he has a conflict of interest. In fact he is the director of the Human Rights Commission, which makes him a civil servant, but he's also head of MIDA, so he is  in a corner, trying to defend himself by accusing others of condoning hate speech - that's it. And no one in that frame of mind in this country and especially not the NFP - that has always fought against  any kind of racial discrimination and has never given credence to hate speech.

TG: You're actually calling for his resignation from both of his positions aren't you?

BP: I think he has put himself in a position where it is untenable and I think he will do a disservice to the people of this country if he continues to do both positions.